BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Does anyone have any more information than this?

Looks like they've already found and arrested the driver:

Police said witnesses provided a vehicle description and license plate information. About 15 minutes later, the driver of a white truck with front-end damage was arrested on Route 119 near the Everson exit. Police said the suspect, identified as Roman Herrin, 22, of Greensburg, will be charged with hit and run. Troopers will consult with the district attorney to determine if additional charges should be filed. "That area is relatively flat, so I’m not sure if it was just a distracted driving type of thing," [PA State Trooper Stefani] Lucas said. "I made certain to [ask witnesses]…was the bicyclist on the shoulder, was he in the middle of the road, and they said no, he was definitely in the road, driving on the roadway, which he’s entitled to do as long as he’s doing so legally. I’m not sure what the reasoning was for him not seeing him."

[emphasis added] WPXI says they'll have an interview with a witness at 5: http://www.wpxi.com/news/bicyclist-struck-and-killed-by-vehicle-in-fayette-county-driver-fails-to-stop-police-say/464855222

Looks like the driver of the pickup truck has been officially charged with homicide by vehicle, DUI (controlled substance), exceeding maximum speed limit by 43 miles per hour, among other criminal and summary offenses.  Held on $200,000 bail. https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketSheets/MDJReport.ashx?docketNumber=MJ-14202-CR-0000418-2016 At least from the preliminary reports in the media and charges filed so far by PSP Uniontown, this crash was definitely preventable.

"Authorities identified the victim as Gary Lewellen, 47, of Arnold. Police said the impact of the crash caused Lewellen to be thrown 60 yards." http://www.wpxi.com/news/greensburg-man-charged-with-dui-in-bicyclists-hit-and-run-death/464855222 The speed limit there (Connellsville St near Ruby View Dr, North Union Township, northeast of Uniontown) is 40mph, so if police believe Herrin was driving 43 mph over the speed limit, that's 83 mph.

if police believe Herrin was driving 43 mph over the speed limit, that’s 83 mph

Actually, the article you linked specifies he was driving 93 mph.

Officials told Channel 11 News that Herrin was driving 93 miles per hour when he was caught.

What should really anger people (pedestrians, cyclists, motorists) is that, had this miscreant stayed at the scene and not been impaired, his penalty likely would have been a relatively minor fine.  Fact is, unless you are driving while impaired, using an automobile to kill a human being in our country is not considered a major crime.  35,000 deaths by auto prove this point...

I think the state just increased the penalty for fleeing the scene of an 'accident' a few years ago.  It's still pathetically low though.   This crash shows just how vulnerable cyclist and pedestrians really are.  No amount of paint, signs or plastic bollards is going to protect us from impaired drivers going 40! miles over the speed limit.

I am curious to know if this was his first DUI, and for that matter, prior traffic history.

Stu, the court docket linked above indicates it is the driver's first DUI. Traffic offenses can be found by searching for the driver's name in the UJS system/website. For what it's worth, the driver is lodged in the Fayette County Jail, which I am told makes the stinky, overcrowded Allegheny County Jail seem like an upscale hotel by comparison.

So noted about the first DUI. Unanswered about prior offenses,